Though nothing has been finalized yet, the expectation is that Major League Baseball soon will announce a bubble plan for the 2020 postseason.
Previous reports have indicated that Southern California and Texas will serve as the sites of playoff games. American League teams would report to the former while National League clubs will head to the latter.
Smaller details still need to be sorted out, such as whether MLB will allow the Wild Card round to play out the games at home stadiums before reporting to the bubble.
The league must also determine how many guests a player can bring into the bubble. While a figure hasn’t been settled on, they will be required to self-quarantine ahead of time.
The Dodgers, and specifically Justin Turner, don’t believe this protocol is necessary, citing the fact that nobody on the club has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) since the start of intake testing prior to Summer Camp, via Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
“You’re asking us to choose between our families and the playoffs?” said Turner, the Dodgers’ union representative. “That’s a stupid question, especially when we’ve played however many successful games this season. Obviously, there were two blips early on (outbreaks with the Marlins and Cardinals) but it was out of poor choices by individuals. Other than that, it has been a pretty successful season. Why change all the protocols now?
“We finish the last week of our season at home. I’d be at my house with my wife,” Turner said. “Then they’re like, ‘We’ve got to separate you guys.’ I don’t understand why she would be quarantined. I lived with her the whole season.”
As Turner notes, the Dodgers have been successful at steering clear from the virus this season. However, the same can’t be said for other clubs such as the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, who missed over a week’s worth of games due to an outbreak.
MLB requiring guests to quarantine before reuniting with players wouldn’t be out of left field, as the NBA and NHL implemented similar protocols for their bubbles.
That being said, one can see why Turner and the Dodgers would be opposed to such a requirement given that they have followed the rules all season.
Turner reaches service time milestone
Now in his seventh season with the Dodgers, Turner recently accumulated his 10th year of Major League service time — a milestone that only an exclusive group of players accomplish.
“TI think it’s kind of a date that sticks out to a lot of guys,” he said. “We have a few guys in the clubhouse that have already hit their 10th year.
“I think Kenley just hit his a couple days ago. I know he’s a few days ahead of me in service time, so mine is coming up. It’s crazy to think about where I was, the road I’ve taken to get here, to be coming up on 10 years is pretty cool to think about.”
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